. Wild birds and their haunts (a book for students and sportsmen) . rnstone, which, with a few calls, came foolishly myway, and was easily despatched. I then repaired to theback of the sea-wall, knowing that from the south thecurlews habitually wing north in the mornings, when thetides run at about eight oclock, and pass a point of thebank about half a mile north of the village. I had notlong to wait till a small lot hove in sight. Incessantcalling drew them nearer, but only one came withinrange, and paid the full penalty for doing so, and then afoolish young wembrel rushed to meet a mimicry o
. Wild birds and their haunts (a book for students and sportsmen) . rnstone, which, with a few calls, came foolishly myway, and was easily despatched. I then repaired to theback of the sea-wall, knowing that from the south thecurlews habitually wing north in the mornings, when thetides run at about eight oclock, and pass a point of thebank about half a mile north of the village. I had notlong to wait till a small lot hove in sight. Incessantcalling drew them nearer, but only one came withinrange, and paid the full penalty for doing so, and then afoolish young wembrel rushed to meet a mimicry of itsnotes, and also fell an easy victim. At this point sportseemed brisk. It was soon over however. More curlewpassed, but well out of range. A goodly company ofwidgeon then sailed along, but of course, in such open 148 WiivD Birds and their Haunts weather, far out over the water. A leisurely retreatbrought breakfast time, and with appetites, of whichonly early shore-gunners can boast, I cheerfully setabout doing justice to the inner passed my Eve of Christmas 149 PART EVE OF CHRISTMAS. IT was the memorable eve of Christmas and I wasdesirous of celebrating the event by a wild fowlingexpedition to new grounds. The weather wassharp, the air keen, and the ground hard with frost—infact a typical Christmas Eve. I hastily packed up andmade for the nearest station to convey me by train to therequired rendezvous, which I had, as it were, momentarilychosen. I at length reached my destination, andessayed forth unaccompanied, preferring to go on mywild goose chase alone. I was serviceably clad,high boots, and the customary paraphernalia, with, ofcourse my invaluable twelve bore, being on this occasion,content with what sportsmen would call light artillery,I made perforce my own way from the quaint hotel, mynew headquarters, to traverse a couple of miles of frost-covered mudflats, to what is locally known as theslakes or swad—to be more correct and understan
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